On April 7, 2007, Abdelkader scored the game-winning goal in the 2007 NCAA Championship Game against Boston College, securing the NCAA Division 1 National Championship for Michigan State University and earning him the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player. He scored the latest game-winning regulation goal ever scored in an NCAA Frozen Four championship game when he scored with just 18.9 seconds left.[2][3]

On April 3, 2008, Abdelkader signed a one-game amateur tryout with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League and was to play that night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In doing so, he forfeited his college eligibility for the 2008–09 season. The following day, Abdelkader signed a three-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. He played one more game that season for Detroit. In June when Detroit won the Stanley Cup Abdelkader was part of the team celebration. He was included on the team picture, and awarded a Stanley Cup Ring. Abdelkader did not play enough games to qualify for engravement on the Stanley Cup in 2008.[5]

Abdelkader scored 24 goals for the Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2008–09 season and was one of the team's best offensive players in the playoffs.[6]

On May 8, 2009, Abdelkader was brought up to the Red Wings as the replacement for Tomáš Kopecký, who sat out Game 5 of the Western Conference semi-finals series against the Anaheim Ducks. Coach Mike Babcock sent Abdelkader to replace Kopecký "because he'll run over people. We expect him to play hard like Darren Helm. He's on the forecheck and he's a physical guy."[7] During the game Abdelkader scored his first career point on an assist to Johan Franzén.

Abdelkader scored his first career NHL goal on May 30, 2009, in Game 1 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After shooting the puck, he grabbed the rebound out of the air with his glove, dropped the puck, and beat Marc-André Fleury high stick side.[8][9] His second goal came nearly 24 hours later in the second game of the series, off of what commentators described as a "knuckle puck." He carried the puck into the forward zone alone against three Penguins defenders and fired a slapshot past Fleury. He became the first rookie to score a goal in consecutive finals games since Minnesota's Dino Ciccarelli did it in 1981.[10]

During the 2009–10 season Justin played 50 games for the Red Wings scoring three goals, while adding three assists. Abdelkader was then re-signed by the Red Wings on a two-year extension worth $1.575 million.

The 2010–11 season was Abdelkader's first full NHL season as a Red Wing. Abdelkader played in 74 games, scoring seven goals, and adding 12 assists.

During the 2011–12 season, he missed only one game, and finished the season with eight goals and 14 assists in 81 games.

On September 14, 2012, Abdelkader signed a four-year, $7.2 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings.[11]

On October 9, 2015, Abdelkader became the second player in Red Wings history to score a hat trick in a season opening home game, following Adam Brown in 1945.[12] Abdelkader was named the First Star of the Week for the week ending October 12, 2015. He shared the league lead with four goals and tied for second in the NHL with five points.[13] On November 12, 2015, the Red Wings signed Abdelkader to a seven-year, $29.75 million contract extension.[14]

Abdelkader was selected to play for the United States national team at the 2014 IIHF World Championship, where he was named team captain.[15] Abdelkader was suspended for one-game at the World Championships for a knee-to-knee hit infraction on Konstantin Pushkaryov in a game against Kazakhstan. Following Abdelkader's one-game suspension, he returned for the game against Germany, where he scored two goals, including the game-winning goal, in the final group stage game to lead the United States to the quarterfinals.[16] During the United States' quarterfinal game against the Czech Republic, Abdelkader was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for charging Vladimír Sobotka in the second period. In July 2014, the IIHF announced that he would be suspended for three-games at the 2015 IIHF World Championship for the hit on Sobotka (Adbelkader is only required to serve the suspension if he appears at that tournament).[17] Abdelkader finished the tournament with three goals and one assists in seven games.[18]

Abdelkader is the son of Joseph and Sheryl Abdelkader.[20] The surname Abdelkader is Arabic. His paternal grandfather, Yusuf Abdul Qadir (Anglicised to Joseph Abdelkader), emigrated from Jordan at the age of 19 to Muskegon, Michigan and married a Polish girl named Zuzanna (Susie).[21]

He went to Churchill Elementary School, Mona Shores Middle School and graduated from Mona Shores High School in 2005. He was named to the all-state hockey team and awarded the Mr. Hockey award, given to the top high school ice hockey player in Michigan. During his senior year, he played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL.

Abdelkader became engaged to his long time girlfriend Julie Leshkevich in November, 2016.[22]